Air conditioner



Oct. 16, 1962 H. A. MEYER ETAL 3,058,650

AIR CONDITIONER Original Filed May 5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TORS HAR/w A. Mew/e Axa F L. A/wfsow Oct. 16, 1962 H. A. MEYER 1.-:TALl 3,058,650

' AIR CONDITIONER Original Filed May 5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToRs HMH ,4. Mes/ee BY ,fixa E /wesa'v M//LjoAg 5eme CRn/G 4 fromm Oct. 16, 1962 H. A. MEYER ETAL AIR CONDITIONER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May 5, 1955 E, ELE- 4 L//L oN, JETTLE CRAIG Oct. 16, 1962 H. A. MEYER ETAL AIR CONDITIONER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 5, 1955 FAN R074 7/0N INVENTORS z3 mf 11.114 41H l/l .4 i

h//LjoM Serf/.E i CRn/e Oct. 16, 1962 H. A. MEYER ETAL AIR CONDITIONER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 5, 1955 3,958,650 AIR CONDITIGNER HarryI A. Meyer and Axel F. L. Anderson, Detroit, Mich.,

asslgnors, by mesne assignments, to American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application May 5, 1955, Ser. No. 506,262, now Patent No. 2,884,769, dated May 5, 1959. Divided and this application Aug. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 759,113

3 Claims. (Cl. 23u-128) This is a divisional application of our copending application, Serial Number 506,262, filed M-ay 5, 1955, now Patent 2,884,769, dated May 5, 1959. The present invention relates generally to mechanism for propelling air.

The propelling assembly in one embodiment of the invention comprises a forwardly curved multi-blade, kinetictype impeller or fan in which the air is introduced into the eye of the impeller and discharged from the periphery thereof. It has been found that the air -in the impeller has `a tendency to induce a swirling motion in the air just entering the impeller. This swirling motion (which continues Ias the air flows into the impeller) acts to keep the air moving around in the impeller interior instead of being discharged out the fan periphery. As a result, the air moving efficiency of the impeller is reduced. Preferably a plurality of vanes are provided at the impeller inlets for preventing the air from swirling about as it enters the impeller interior. These varies cause the incoming air to move axially into the impeller interior instead of circumferentially as in a swirl.

One object of the present invention is to provide a blower assembly of improved air-moving efiiciency.

Another object is to provide in a blower assembly a mechanism for preventing incoming air from swirling around in a closed circle within the blower impeller interior.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the `several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 `is a side view of an air conditioner unit embodying the invention,

FIGURE .2 is a view taken on line 2 2 in FIGURE l,

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on line 3 3 lin FIG- URE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on line 4 4 in FIGURE l,

FIGURE 5 is a View taken on line 5 5 in FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 6 is a view taken on line 6 6 in FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 7 is a View taken in the same direction as FIGURE 5 but with certain filter cell-supporting elements removed whereby to allow for the accommodation of different sized filter cells, l

FIGURE 8 is la side View of a blower assembly employed in the FIGURE l embodiment,

FIGURE 9 is a view taken on line 9 9 in FIG- URE 8,

FIGURE l0 is an enlarged side elevational View similar to FIGURE 8, and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View to bring out the details of the invention.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to lthe details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the yaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

3,058,550 Patented Oct. 16, 1962 ice Referring to the drawings the FIGURE 1 embodiment includes a blower assembly 1, two heat exchanger assemblies 2 and 3, and a filter box assembly d. The fan or impeller in assembly 1 draws air in through filter box assembly 4, heat exchangers 2 and 3, and the eye of the blower fan or impeller. Air is discharged from the fan blade periphery through outlet 47. Blower assembly I and a portion of heat exchanger assembly 2 are seated on three angle members 11, 12 and 13` secured to certain upstanding walls of a tank or base member 5'.

Tank 5 includes a bottom wall 6 and four upstanding walls 7, 8, 9 and 10. Wall 10 is of reduced height as compared to walls 7, 8 and 9 whereby to provide a freef space between the top edge of wall lt and the lower extremity of heat exchanger 2. This free space receives ai drain pan 14- which extends from adjacent the upstream end 18 of heat exchanger 3 to a point 15 within tank 5. If another heat exchanger (not shown) were to bey employed, then the conditioner pan Ificould be slid on the upper edge of wall 10 to the right (as viewed in FIGURE l). If it were desired to utilize only one heat exchanger pan 14 could be slid to the left. The right end of the drain pan may be supported in any convenientl manner but as shown in the drawings the drain pan is supported on brackets or ledges 16 extending from angle iron legs 17. The primary function of legs 17 is to cooperate with tank 5 yand blower assembly 1 in the support of relatively heavy heat exchangers 2i and 3. Fittings 6i) of the heat exchangers extend outwardly beyond the limits of pan 14 so that in some cases it may be desirable to cut an opening in the pan and provide an extension therefor (as shown at 61 in FIGURE 2) whereby to collect any `condensate which may drip from the fittings.

The upstream face of heat exchanger 3 has bolted thereto the previously mentioned filter box assembly 4. Assembly 4 includes a pair of horizontal frame members 19 and 20 interconnected at each of their ends by two Vertical channels 21 and 22. Each of frame members 19 Iand 20 includes end flanges 23, horizontally-extending web portions 24, and a U-shaped channel portion 25. Flanges 23 are provided with bolt holes for securement of the filter box assembly on an adjacent structure such as heat exchanger 3. Web portions 24 have extended therebetween a number of vertical channel members 26. 'Il-lese channel members function as block off members in that they extend across the joints between adjacent lilter cells 27 (shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 5, 6 yand 7) and thereby prevent or block off unfiltered air flow through said joints. 'Ihere extend across the space between channels 21, 22 and 25v one or more H-shaped elements 28, 29 or 30. The number of H-shaped elements employed will depend on the number and size of filter cells which the particular installation requires. The larger size cells are conventionally constructed in heights corresponding to the dimension A in FIGURE 7. Therefore, when it is desired to employ larger size filter cells only one H-shaped member need be employed. The smaller size cells are conventionally constructed in heights corresponding to the dimension B in FIGURE 5. Therefore, when it is desired to employ smaller size filter cells a plurality of H-shaped members are employed, in which case the intermediate member 29 is employed to aid in the retention of two series or levels of filter cells.

Securement of the filter cells in the assembly is accomplished through the use of two compressible and extensible'elements 33 `and 34 mounted on bracket arms 35 and 36 which extend from the inner faces of closure panels 37 and 38. Elements 33` and 34 press against the vertical edges of filter cells 27 so as to prevent them from vibrating and causing noise. Elements 36` and 34,

because of their deformable characteristics, also compensate for any differences in filter cell dimension. Panels 37 and 38 are provided with a plurality of key hole slots 39, which lockingly engage headed pins 40 projecting from the web portions of channels 21 and 22. Filter cell insertion `and removal is effected by sliding panel 37 and/or panel 38 upwardly so as to bring the enlarged portions of slots 39 into registry with pins 40 and thereafter withdrawing the panels horizontally from engagement with the pins. The filter cells can then be slid in and out on the H-shaped members through the open ends of the assembly.

Blower assembly housing 1 forms a plenum chamber containing one or more fan casings 41, each of which is provided with a fan wheel 42. Each wheel is preferably of the double-intake form wherein air is taken into the eye of the wheel at both of its ends. Air discharge is through the fan periphery.

The fan wheel is powered by a motor 43 operating through a pair of sheaves 44 and 45 and a belt 46. Rotation of the wheel by motor 43 causes the fan blades to dig into the air in the eye of the fan and propel it through the fan periphery into outlet 47. The propelled air is given a certain circumferential push as it flows through the fan blades. This circumferential push tends to keep the incoming air moving around in a closed circle within the fan interior instead of being drawn out through the fan blades. 1t is desirable to prevent or minimize this circling or swirling of the air in the fan interior. For this reason there are provided on the side wall of fan casing 41 a plurality of radially-extending vanes 48. Each of these vanes includes an air directing wall 49, a flange 50 for securing the vane to casing 41 and a flange 51 for securing the vane to an adjacent vane. Flanges 51 are so arranged with each other as to provide a circular opening 52 for the fan shaft 53.

As will appear from FGURES 8, 9 and l0 walls 49 of the vanes extend radially of the fan blades. This radial disposition allows walls 49 to prevent the air from taking a circular or swirling motion as it enters the eye of the fan. Instead the entering `air is directed axially and the tendency to swirl is reduced. Elimination of swirling through the use of vanes 48 has been found to increase the air moving efiiciency of the fan, thereby contributing to a more economically operated conditioner apparatus.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l. An air conditioning unit comprising an upright relatively large rectangular housing having an inlet opening in one end thereof, and an outlet opening in the opposite end thereof, the space between the two openings constituting a plenum chamber; a relatively small centrifugal fan casing located within said housing and including two parallel side plates extending normal to the inlet and outlet openings, and a scroll-forming wall structure located between said end plates; said casing being located within the plenum chamber substantially directly between the -inlet and outlet openings so that gas flows along the outer surface of at least one of the side plates while in the plenum chamber; at least one of the side plates having an entrance opening therein for introducing gas to the fan casing; a centrifugal fan wheel located within the casing and having an entrance eye registering with the entrance opening; and la senies of radial vanes carried adjacent to and in axial alignment with the entrance opening; each of said vanes having flat planar surfaces extending in directions parallel with the wheel axis for a substantial axial distance, with the outer edges thereof located outwardly of the plane of the side plate, said outer edges being free and unconnected so that gas can enter the blades from points axially aligned with the entrance opening and other points located about the periphery of the entrance opening; each of the vanes being formed separately from the neighboring vanes and each of the vanes having a flange at one of its ends for mounting the respective vane on the casing side plate, each of said vanes further having a flange at its other end for connection with an adjacent vane, the second mentioned flanges on the various vanes being connected together to define a generally tubular wall structure for accommodating a fan wheel shaft.

2. In a blower assembly, a centrifugal fan casing having a flat side wall, Ian inlet opening in said side wall, a centrifugal fan wheel within said casing and having an entrance eye registering with said inlet opening, said fan wheel having a shaft extending through said opening, a plurality of plate-like vanes of substantially equal surface area extending radially across said opening, each of said vanes being formed separately from neighboring vanes, each of said vanes having a flange at one of its ends for mounting on said casing side wall and a flange at its other end for connection with an adjacent vane, -and said vanes being positioned closely adjacent said opening, means connecting said vanes at the center of said opening to define a generally tubular wall structure for accommodating said fan wheel shaft, and said vanes having their planar surfaces in alignment with the axis of said opening, whereby gas entering said opening is directed axially into said wheel and prevented from swirling in a closed circle at points adjacent said opening.

3. In a blower assembly, `a centrifugal fan casing having va flat side wall, -an inlet opening in said side wall, a centrifugal fan wheel within said casing and having an entr-ance eye registering with said inlet opening, said fan wheel having -a shaft extending through said opening, a plurality of plate-like vanes of substantially equal surface area extending radially across said opening and each of said vanes being formed sparately from neighboring vanes, each of said vanes having a first flange at one of its ends for mounting on said casing side wall and a second flange at its other end for connection with an adjacent vane, said second flanges being connected together to define a generally tubular wall structure for accommodating a fan ywheel shaft, and said vanes being positioned closely adjacent said opening and having their planar surfaces in alignment with the axis of said opening, whereby gas entering said opening is directed axially into said wheel and prevented from swirling in a closed circle at points adjacent said opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,308,108 Peterson July l, 1919 1,537,656 Brooks May 12, 1925 1,745,854 Lawaczeck Feb. 4, 1930 1,866,064 `tratford July 5, 1932 1,910,225 Anderson May 23, 1933 2,050,700 Hagen Aug. l1, 1936 2,069,640 Beardsley Feb. 2, 1937 2,100,481 Howden Nov. 30, 1937 2,113,391 Bartlett et al. Apr. 5, 1938 2,166,276 Anderson July 18, 1939 2,233,991 Walters Mar. 4, l94l 2,450,647 Essick Oct. 5, 1948 2,632,397 Jandasek Mar. 24, 1953 2,641,191 Buchi June 9, 1953 2,727,680 Madison et al Dec. 20, 1955 2,778,563 Doyle Ian. 22, 1957 2,798,660 Flynn July 9, 1957 2,801,518 Wosika et al. Aug. 6, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 759,514 Germany Apr. 9, 1953 

